Solana seeks to calm Muslim anger

Riyadh: The European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana has assured Muslims that Europe will make efforts to prevent a repeat of the cartoons issue.

Solana, who embarked on a Middle East tour to repair the damage caused by cartoons slandering the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), also expressed his displeasure over the handling of the issue by European countries.

"Be sure we are going to do our utmost for this not to happen again, because we need each other ... I don't think honestly it will happen again," he said.

"There will be fruitful and positive actions from the European Union and Denmark in favour of the Islamic world," Solana promised.

"I came here not to tell you that we treated this issue in the best way," he said in a joint press conference with the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Prof Ekmeleddin Ehsanoglu in Jeddah yesterday.

Solana said the European Union will work together with the OIC to strengthen the relations between the people of Europe and the Muslim countries as well as to avoid repeating similar incidents.

"The people of Europe want to maintain strong relations with the Muslim world as well as to strengthen mutual values, most significantly the values of tolerance and reciprocal respect.

The EU leader appreciated the OIC's handling of the cartoon issue, commending Prof Ehsanoglu that "I see in him a good man to converse with".

Solana also met the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. The monarch briefed the European chief on the Saudi position with regard to publishing of the sacrilegious cartoons.

King Abdullah also underlined the need for repairing the damage caused by the issue in the relations between the Muslim world and the West.On his part, Solana explained to the king about the steps taken by the EU to avoid repeating such incidents in future.

France denounces newspaper's action

The French foreign ministry has denounced the publishing of the offensive cartoons by a French newspaper in a letter to Dr Abdullah Al Turky, Secretary-General of the Makkah-based Muslim World League.

The official letter was handed to Dr Al Turky by the French ambassador during a reception. They also discussed issues of mutual concern.

"Even though France is a country giving full freedom of expression, it never allows insulting any individuals or their religions or beliefs. The republishing of the cartoons in a French newspaper was not acceptable to the government," the message said.

MWL chief said in a press statement that the ambassador explained to him that the French government had condemned the publishing of the cartoons.